Elīna Rancāne

Socio-Legal Researcher in Equality, Gender and Law

ABOUT
CV
Contact

PUBLICATIONS

×

RESEARCH

×

Lectures & Teaching

×

Media & commentary

Elīna Rancāne is a socio-legal researcher and doctoral candidate at the University of Latvia. Her work focuses on equality and anti-discrimination law, gender, legal language, legal semiotics, and the relationship between law and society.

Her academic background combines law, diplomacy, sociology of law, and sustainable development. Alongside her doctoral research, she teaches Legal Ethics, contributes to teaching in Gender Studies and the Sociology of Law, and publishes academic and public-facing work on equality, human rights, and legal meaning.

Education

Ph.D. in Law

University of Latvia, Faculty of Law

2025 – present

Riga, Latvia

Doctoral research on gender equality, positive action, and the legal limits of temporary special measures. The project examines discrimination claims brought by men, structural disadvantage, proportionality, and the historical and institutional context in which equality measures operate.

Working thesis title:
Gender Equality from the Prohibition of Positive Discrimination to Special Measures: A Historical and Sociological Legal Discourse

LL.M. in Law and Sustainable Development

University of Milan

2024 – 2025

Milan, Italy

Advanced legal studies focused on the relationship between law, sustainable development, human rights, institutions, and global regulatory challenges.

Grade average: 27.4/30

M.A. in Sociology of Law

University of the Basque Country and International Institute for the Sociology of Law

2023 – 2024

Onati, Spain

Interdisciplinary postgraduate studies in sociology of law, socio-legal research methods, human rights, institutions, and the relationship between legal systems and social change.

Grade average: 9.4/10
Thesis grade: 9.3/10

Thesis:
Actions and Reactions: Human Rights NGOs Navigating Hybrid Warfare and Russian Diaspora Challenges in the Baltic States

The thesis examined how human-rights NGOs in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania respond to hybrid warfare, disinformation, minority-rights concerns, and societal polarisation affecting Russian-speaking communities. It combined document analysis, interviews, and comparative socio-legal research.

LL.B. in Law and Diplomacy

Riga Graduate School of Law

2020 – 2023

Riga, Latvia

Undergraduate studies combining public international law, human rights, European Union law, diplomacy, international relations, and legal research.

Grade average: 9.0/10
Thesis grade: 10/10

Thesis:
Russia’s Use of Rhetoric and International Law: A Case Study of the Interconnection Between Legalistic Language and Rational Choice Theory

The thesis analysed how Russia uses the language of international law to justify its actions in Ukraine and examined legal rhetoric as a strategic tool for producing legitimacy, deflecting criticism, and advancing state interests.

experience

Research Assistant and Lecturer

University of Latvia, Faculty of Law

November 2025 – present

Riga, Latvia

Conducting doctoral research and contributing to academic teaching, publication, and institutional work within the Faculty of Law.

Current responsibilities include:

  • contributing to institutional work on gender equality and academic culture.
  • teaching the mandatory bachelor-level course Legal Ethics;
  • contributing guest lectures to Gender Studies and the Sociology of Law;
  • preparing peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations;
  • conducting socio-legal and doctrinal research;
  • supporting ethical research practice, data management, and academic reporting.

Chair of the Board

SIA BALAMORA

September 2022 – present

Jurmala, Latvia

Managing a language and editorial services company specialising in academic, legal, and professional communication.

Work includes:

  • editing and proofreading academic and legal documents;
  • translation between Latvian, English, and Russian;
  • participation in European human rights projects;
  • coordination of client work and project delivery;
  • quality control and multilingual communication.

Research Coordinator

Baltic Human Rights Society

May 2022 – April 2025

Riga, Latvia

Coordinated legal research, public communication, and human-rights education projects.

Key responsibilities and contributions included:

  • implementing Latvian legislative developments in the Human Rights Guide;
  • developing the Guide’s human-trafficking theme, later adapted for Estonia and Lithuania;
  • researching human-rights law and policy;
  • writing and reporting for cilvektiesibas.info;
  • coordinating multilingual legal content;
  • supporting international and European-funded projects;
  • contributing to public communication, events, and educational materials. 

Legal Secretary

Skrastiņš & Dzenis Law Office

July 2021 – April 2022

Riga, Latvia

Provided legal, administrative, and multilingual support in a law-office environment.

Responsibilities included:

  • legal research in case law, procedural law, and family law;
  • drafting and formatting legal documents;
  • translation between Latvian, English, and Russian;
  • document management and communication support. 

ACHIEVEMENTS

André-Jean Arnaud Prize

Awarded for the best master’s thesis for research on human-rights NGOs, hybrid warfare, and the Russian-speaking diaspora in the Baltic States.

RGSL Excellence award

Awarded in recognition of exceptional academic achievement and consistently high performance during the LL.B. in Law and Diplomacy programme.

Languages

Latvian  Native
English C2
Russian C2 

Volunteering

National Figure Skating Judge

Latvian Skating Association
August 2022–present

National figure-skating judge, with experience judging Latvian and Lithuanian figure skating competitions, including the Latvian Championship.

Volunteer Translator

Translators Without Borders
January 2022–February 2024

Provided English-to-Latvian translation support for humanitarian and public-interest communication projects.